Save the date for hot Valentine’s shows

Last spring, hundreds on Vashon were transported to the land of aloha by Makana’s slack-key magic. Now he’s returning to island for a special Valentine’s Day event.

Makana — a Hawaiian slack-key guitarist, singer and composer — will perform at the Open Space for Arts & Community at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14.

Voted one of America’s top three guitarists by Guitar Player Magazine in 2008, Makana is a slack-key guitar master whose music transcends category and trend by integrating elements of folk, rock, ethnic, classical, bluegrass, jazz and Hawaiian slack-key.

His music can be heard in the Academy Award-winning movie “The Descendants,” and he’s toured with top artist such as Jason Mraz, Santana, Elvis Costello, Sting, Jack Johnson and John Legend.

Tickets to the show, $18 in advance, are available at Vashon Bookshop and www.brownpapertickets.com. They will be available for $22 on the day of the event.

Pairs sing love songs at The Bike

More than 50 singers are slated to descend on the Red Bike on the day after Valentine’s Day, pairing up to sing covers and original tunes about love.

Performers at “Love Duets” range from well-known Vashon musicians such as Kat Eggleston, Jason Staczek, Bill Brown and Sarah Christine to lower-profile singers stepping out for their moment to shine. Allison Shirk and Cami Lundeen will emcee.

Proceeds from “Love Duets” scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, will go to the scholarship fund of the Vashon string group RISK and support music lessons and instrument rentals for low-income children.

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